Anne Bell
Merva Biology
Block 3
Abstract
The purpose of this experiment is to use blood typing to determine the potential father of
Quinn’s baby. In order to do so, blood samples from the baby will have to be tested for A, B, C,
and Rh proteins using anti-serums, as will the mother. Then the baby and the mother’s blood
will be compared to the two potential father’s blood. Using the laws of genetics the two fathers
blood will be analyzed in order to see if (in combination with the mothers DNA) his blood’s DNA
matches that of the baby.
Introduction
Blood typing is an important aspect of life, and it is necessary in many instances.
Different blood alleles include the ABO Blood groups and Rh factors. The different blood types
in combination with Rh effect a person’s blood, and lifestyle.
ABO blood groups are the groups that show whether a person has A, B, or O proteins
that appear on the surface of our blood cells. These Alleles are represented by IA, IB, and i. The
‘i’ allele is the only recessive out of the three, since ‘A’ and ‘B’ are co-dominant. Since ‘A’ and ‘B’
share dominance the possible blood types are A, B, AB, and O. ‘O’ is another way to name for
type ‘ii’. These different blood types are important, since conflicting blood types will produce
antibodies and attack foreign types. A blood types will produce antibodies against B blood
types, as will B against A, and O against all proteins.
Another factor in blood typing is Rh. Rh, stands for Rhesus. Rh+ indicates that the Rh
protein is in the cell, while Rh- shows that the cell does not have Rh. Like the ABO blood groups
the RH is important to survival since opposite Rh factors can produce antibodies. If a person
who is Rh- receives blood that is Rh+, their body will produce antibodies that will attack cells
with the Rh. The ‘universal doner’ or blood type that can be taken by any blood type is O+ since
it has no proteins, leaving nothing for antibodies to attack. The ‘universal acceptor’ is AB+ since
it contains all the proteins therefore the body has no need to attack any of the proteins.
In 1901 Karl Landsteiner discovered that the mixing of blood from one person with
another could lead to clumping and clotting that would eventually kill the them, due to
antibodies latching on to multiple blood cells.In 1940 The Rh factor was discovered by
Alexander Weiner. Both these scientists contributed to the blood typing by discovering the
main parts of it.
The blood types themselves are passed down from the parents. When a male fertilizes a
female egg 23 of the male chromosomes combine with 23 female chromosomes to make 46
total chromosomes. In each of the chromosomes the genes and factors that determine a
person’s characteristics, like blood type.
The problem my group must solve is whether or not Finn is the father of Quinn’s baby,
by blood typing Finn, Puck (another potential father), the baby, and Quinn. We will have to
compare the baby to all the potential parents and determine who the possible parents could
be. As an Avid fan of Glee, I believe that If the baby must belong to either Finn or Puck, then
puck is most likely the father, because Finn was a virgin at the time the baby was conceived.
The factors of blood typing will help determine who the father of the baby is, in order to
do so we must use Anti serums and if the A, B, O, or, Rh proteins are present the blood sample
will thicken and prove the presence of the protein.
Experiment
Materials:
6 toothpicks
1 blood type slide
Anti A
Anti B
Anti Rh
4 blood samples
Procedure
1. Perform test at room temperature. Place one drop of anti-A and one drop of anti-B in their
respective depression circles in the blood type slide.
2. Add one drop of the synthetic blood sample being tested to each drop of antiserum.
3. Also add one drop of blood to the extra depression circle. This is your control. Do not add
antiserum to this blood droplet.
4. Mix the blood sample and antiserum with a clean end of a toothpick, scraping firmly against the
slide in the process. Continue stirring for two minutes or until agglutination is noted.
5. The control blood drop should also be mixed for two minutes.
Analyze the slides and determine whether or not agglutination occurred. Record results in the table
provided. Note that in this simulation, precipitations are recorded as agglutinations.
Results
`
Sample
#
Person
1
Quinn
2
Puck
3
Finn
4
Baby
Agglutination (+ or -)
A
B
Rh
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
YES
ABO Blood
Type
A
B
AB
O
Rh Blood
Type
+
+
+
Before adding the anti-serum to all the blood samples the blood was in a liquid form, and an
even red tone. Upon stirring the antiserums into the blood sample there was a noticeable
difference in consistency for the positive samples, and the blood began to change and in some
cases even clump onto the toothpick. Once the antiserum was added and stirred into the
‘blood’ the samples positive for the protein would clump up, or separate into different parts
almost like it was curdling.
References
"Blood Groups, Blood Typing and Blood Transfusions." Nobelprize.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2010.
<http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/medicine/landsteiner/readmore.html>.
"Blood Types | American Red Cross." American Red Cross - Give blood. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2010.
<http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/blood-types>.
"Blood Typing." DNA. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2010.
<www.wilton.k12.ct.us/~hoytm/Blood%20Typing.html >.